Tough Chicks

So we went for a hike last Saturday at the same place we went to a few weekends ago, but we wanted to do the other side. This hike was supposed to be 3 miles around a lake. It started out nice, but after a mile we hear gun fire. Remember, this place is a Wildlife Management Area, however, the last time we went it was on a Sunday and they don't allow hunting on Sundays. This was a Saturday. We thought hunting season was over...guess not. I was starting to freak out. Thankfully, the kids were wearing outfits they picked out themselves...Sadie had a flowered dress, pink fleece, and neon green pants. We would definitely stand out! Plus, they were loud..really loud. They were singing Jingle Bells and made up songs until we couldn't take it anymore. So...now we're about 2 miles into it. We pass some people on horses. Okay...if they're on the trail it must be okay! I felt better until one woman said, "Just watch out for the hunters hiding in the bushes ahead." WHAT??? Are you kidding me? By this point I was thinking, well, it's only 3 miles and we're two into it..it's better to just make a lot of noise and keep going. Plus...we're on a hiking path! So...we keep going. We see the hunters not too far up the path...they wave and we start walking up a big hill. At the top, we see another hunter in full camo holding a turkey decoy. Very eerie. We must be almost done I'm thinking. Oh no...we catch a glimpse of the lake and we haven't even made it half way around! What the hay??? So...we keep on going. Now let me tell you that by this point it was about 4:15. It would be dark soon and we had a long way to go. It started to get tense...especially when I said..."There's no way this is 3 miles!" Danny said, "That's what the map said!" Hmmm.... We trudged on. After a few minutes, we reached the halfway point & took a quick break. I felt better. We were out in the open and I could see the spot that we needed to get to. We kept going only to find out that the trail disappeared. So...we decided to follow the lake around the shore so we didn't get lost. Well...that didn't work because there were inlets that we had to walk around and TONS of thorns. We were walking through some serious brush. By this point, the sun was almost at the tree tops, the kids have had it, and I'm beyond frustrated. Did I mention the firing range around the corner from us? It sounded like we were in a battlefield. We walked & walked through thick mud, vines, tall grass, and various types of thorns until FINALLY we saw a car at the pier we needed to get to. But that wasn't it...we still had to hike another 3/4 mile down the road to get to our car. Thankfully, Danny offered to go get the car while I waited for the kids. They were spent, but I was so impressed with how well they did. I said, "Girls...you were such great hikers today. Super tough!" Elise said, "We're tough chicks!" Yes they were!

So...we will not be doing that hike again and don't recommend it to our friends with kids :0). It ended up being about 5 miles not including the road Danny took to the car. Did I also mention I ran 5 miles that morning?

Anabelle's First Speech

Anabelle gave the first speech of her life yesterday in front of about 400 people. She did a fabulous job. She spoke with confidence and enthusiasm and

remembered to give lots of eye contact. I couldn't have been more proud of her. I thought she nailed it. I got goose bumps when she asked the 4th & 5th graders if they'd like to see themselves in pictures from school events and most of the kids raised their hands. We were worried no one would participate, but they did! It was a good lesson on engaging her audience.

Although she didn't win, we are so very proud of her. She was a little disappointed, but was quick to say..."Next year I'm running for president!"

You can watch her here (sorry for the jiggly view...I couldn't stop shaking:0)).

I have 3 girls...right?

So...one of the topics in our house this week has been probably one of the most shocking since we've had since kids...3 girls that is. Somehow, Elise has fallen in love with the idea of owning a BB gun. "What?" you say? "An 8 year old girl wants a BB gun?" The answer is yes and she won't stop talking about it. The first time she mentioned it I actually quoted that famous line..."You'll poke your eye out!" There was just no way I would allow that. You'd think the discussion would be over at that point, but not when Dad is sitting off to the side pondering the idea. She sensed his intrigue...that's for sure! Today Elise & I had some time alone while her sisters were at other activities and she said, "Mom, what about an air soft gun?" Then she started telling me all about how Dad had looked it up and how cool it was. ?????? Really? Hmmmm... I asked Elise if her and dad were in cahoots together to get one (she didn't know what that meant) so, I asked Danny about it. He said no and that he was just looking up information about it. Now to be fair, this is coming from an Eagle Scout who has a respect for firearms and would handle shooting a BB gun or air soft gun safely, but then there's the big question that keeps coming back...WHY would my daughter want to shoot a gun? I just don't get it. I mean, I get that she's her own person and in her words, "a bit of a tom boy", but a gun? Where did this come from?

So now...let me tell you about Anabelle. Girlie girl Anabelle who lays her whimsical ensemble out every night before she goes to bed. Can you believe she is now begging me for a pocket knife! Her friend showed her how to whittle a stick and she's fascinated. Okay...whittling sounds creative and a hobby nicely tied to the earth, but also dangerous! She can barely cut her own apples! I remember my brothers having pocket knives, but I have no idea when they got them and I definitely don't remember ever wanting one. I did Google 'pocket knives for girls' just out of curiosity and lots of pink ones popped up. I guess I just never thought I'd be contemplating my girls owning such things yet...here I am.

Remember that 90s song..."Things that make you go Hmmm?" These are definitely a few of those things :0).

SCA results

So...today was voting day at the girls' school and Anabelle was running for Historian. Basically, the duties include taking pictures of school events and scrapbooking them...that's right up her alley. Prior to the vote, we had a long talk about popularity and how that doesn't mean everything. I made sure I told her how proud I was of her for even trying and we worked long & hard on her campaign poster last weekend. After finding out that there was almost 30 kids running for that job, I really thought her chances were slim and wanted to prepare her for not making it. Well...I had a good feeling when she leaped off the bus today and greeted me with a huge hug. She was selected from her class and will now go to the next round which includes a speech and campaigning. Holy cow! I was so surprised and so happy for her! There are 6 students left, so we'll see how it goes. Now I feel like we have to get really creative with her campaign. They said no food or candy, but stickers & buttons are allowed. Buttons...really?? I guess I'll hop on Pinterest :0).

Ameila Wildlife Management Area

Today we decided to take our pastor's advice to go out and enjoy God's beautiful creation. We drove out to hike at Ameila's WMA which is about 20 minutes away. They allow hunting there, but not on Sundays (definitely not something you want going on while you hike!). An added plus, was that hunting season ended yesterday. We did come across a man who saw Calvin trotting along next to us and warned us about beaver traps...can you imagine if Calvin got into one of those? How horrible! Despite that, we had a great time walking through large fields and exploring an old abandoned farm house. It looked liked something you'd see in a horror movie. As we approached, three large vultures flew from it's roof...it gave me the creeps. I was especially uneasy walking through the ghostly rooms with peeling plaster, busted floorboards, and vine covered windows. Eeerrie!!! The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. I guess it was a good thing Danny talked me into letting them go in. After three miles, the girls were dragging so we cut the hike short, but next time I'd like to venture the other three miles around a nearby lake. I would find a little more of God's beauty in that for sure :0)! Here are some of the shots I got and one of the creepy house.

FuN TiMe~!~!

Here's our NYC trip in a nutshell...Fell in love with the city, decided I would never want to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square, giggled a lot, felt like a kid in FAO Schwartz, was speechless at Ground Zero, was shocked by the price of nachos, ate a real NY bagel and slice of pizza....mmmm, took pictures of naked cowboy (and will never hear the end of it), danced until 1:00am on New Year's Eve and nearly collapsed from exhaustion, waved down a cab, walked through Central Park, and enjoyed watching the pigeons our of our hotel window.